In a powerful move for creators worldwide, over 13,000 artists, musicians, and other creatives have signed a statement urging AI companies to fairly compensate them for the use of their work in training generative models. The campaign, led by Fairly Trained—a certification group advocating for ethical AI practices—highlights the imbalance in the tech industry, where companies invest heavily in computing and engineering but expect free access to creative data.
Supported by UK bodies like The Council of Music Makers, the initiative also calls on rights-holders to seek explicit consent before licensing works for AI training. This growing movement is gaining momentum as public sympathy for creators rises in the face of unregulated AI practices.
While the fight is far from over, this collective action underscores a demand for ethical standards and regulatory oversight. As debates around copyright exceptions and synthetic data heat up, this campaign marks a significant step in ensuring AI development respects and compensates creative labour.